Forever Homes for Elderly, Disabled in Ellis County

0:00A Christian nonprofit called Hour Calling has launched a new community in Ellis County, Texas offering forever homes the homeless people who are elderly or disabled. The first phase includes 25 homes with 20 set aside for folks like Anita and Kenneth Johnson, a couple who struggle for months on the streets and in shelters due to her wheelchair needs. Eleven residents have already moved in. Five of those homes house additional residents from Dallas theological seminary who live on sites to build relationships and provide support. The project is privately funded through donations from individuals, foundations, corporations and churches with a total estimated cost of $70 million. Rent has kept very low, covered mostly by government benefits and each case is handled individually. For residents like the 54 year old Anita and her 67 year old husband Kenneth, it's a game changer giving them accessible homes with ramps, wide paths and safe spaces to age in place.

1:00The setup encourages neighborly connections through front porches, shared grills, benches and even a dog park tackling the isolation that often comes with homelessness. Our calling is now raising $25 million for phase two, which will add up to 500 homes, a medical clinic, cafeteria and more services all build debt-free as funds come in. During this pilot, they coordinate grocery runs, doctor visits and on-site medical care. Housing experts praise the effort for boosting permanent options with integrated health support, filling a key gap for the most vulnerable and showing how private initiatives can succeed where others stall. Dallas News Today, powered by AI Bringing You What Matters. I'm Corey with The Story.